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Saturday, July 19, 2014

Close to the Sun by Donald Michael Platt

Close to the Sun follows the lives of fighter pilots during the
Second World War. As a boy, Hank Milroy from Wyoming idealized the
gallant exploits of WWI fighter aces. Karl, Fürst von
Pfalz-Teuffelreich, aspires to surpass his father’s 49 Luftsiegen. Seth
Braham falls in love with flying during an air show at San Francisco’s
Chrissy Field.
The young men encounter friends, rivals, and exceptional women.
Braxton Mobley, the hotshot, wants to outscore every man in the air
force. Texas tomboy Catherine “Winty” McCabe is as good a flyer as any
man. Princess Maria-Xenia, a stateless White Russian, works for the
Abwehr, German Intelligence. Elfriede Wohlman is a frontline nurse with a
dangerous secret. Miriam Keramopoulos is the girl from Brooklyn with a
voice that will take her places.
Once the United States enter the war, Hank, Brax, and Seth experience
the exhilaration of aerial combat and acedom during the unromantic
reality of combat losses, tedious bomber escort, strafing runs, and the
firebombing of entire cities. As one of the hated aristocrats, Karl is
in as much danger from Nazis as he is from enemy fighter pilots, as he
and his colleagues desperately try to stem the overwhelming tide as the
war turns against Germany. Callous political decisions, disastrous
mistakes, and horrific atrocities they witness at the end of WWII put a
dark spin on all their dreams of glory.

Publication Date: June 15, 2014
Fireship Press
eBook; 404p

Genre: Historical Fiction

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When I was asked to read this book I jumped at the chance. It's about pilots! What's the big deal about pilots you ask? My husband has his private pilots license and son #3 is working on his. The early part of our marriage involved me learning about Messerschmitt's, Mosquito's, Mustang's and other fighters. So reading this book was a wonderful relearning experience.

Lately I've been reading so many books about WW II, this book was a nice change given that it was from on high, the pilots point of view. Having never gotten a glimpse from that angle it was very interesting to watch Karl, Hank and Seth train and work towards their goals with such passion and commitment. Taking place during the course of the war there is much going on, not just the air to air combat, but political situations and more. Of course this book wouldn't be complete without women and a little romance. Winty (tomboy, pilot also), Miriam (singer), Elfi (nurse) and Mariya-Xenia round this book pleasingly with their authentic story lines.

There is no doubt that the author has done a remarkable job with research, it shows. The story line was real and matched the time period perfectly. Definitely an author I will read more of.

This book will appeal to those that enjoy WW II from a unique POV.

Blogger Praise for Close to the Sun

“Donald Michael Platt’s Close to the Sun is an amazing story told
from the perspective of average male fighter pilots in the onset and
during WWII, juxtaposing between various men from many sides of the war.
The details in this novel were spectacular, creating imagery and depth
in the scenes and characters, as well as the dialogue being so nostalgic
and well-written it felt right out of a 1950’s film. The romantic
nuances of his storytelling felt incredibly authentic with the tug and
pull of the men being called to serve and the women whom they loved who
had their own high hopes, dreams, or work. I loved how he portrayed this
women the most—strongly and fiercely independent. I’ve read several
other books by Platt, and this is the best one I’ve read yet! I couldn’t
stop reading. ” – Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi, Hook of a Book

“Donald Platt’s Close To The Sun, is nothing short of Historical
Fiction gold. Platt’s flair for emotionally provocative storytelling
makes this book attractive to both male and female readers. Seamlessly
weaving the threads of action and feeling into a brilliant tableau of
humanity. This is a masterfully penned tale of war, ambition, love,
loss, and ACES!” – Frishawn Rasheed, WTF Are You Reading?

“Fast-paced and riveting I couldn’t get enough of Hank, Karl and
Seth’s exploits! CLOSE TO THE SUN is a thrilling novel that leads
readers through idyllic dreams of heroism and the grim reality of war.
Platt provides readers with a unique coming-of-age story as three
adventure-seeking boys discover far more than how to be an aerial combat
pilot. CLOSE TO THE SUN is an amazing tale of adventure, heroism, war
and the drive within us all that keeps us going when things look bleak.”
– Ashley LaMar, Closed the Cover

“I found Close to the Sun to be an entertaining read, it was well
written, with well developed characters, these characters had depth and
emotion. A unique plot, told from the point of view of pilots prior to
and during World War II. It was a well researched and interesting book” –
Margaret Cook, Just One More Chapter

Buy the Book

Author of four other novels, ROCAMORA, HOUSE OF ROCAMORA, A GATHERING
OF VULTURES, and CLOSE TO THE SUN, Donald Michael Platt was born and
raised in San Francisco. Donald graduated from Lowell High School and
received his B.A. in History from the University of California at
Berkeley. After two years in the Army, Donald attended graduate school
at San Jose State where he won a batch of literary awards in the annual
SENATOR PHELAN LITERARY CONTEST.

Donald moved to southern California to begin his professional writing
career. He sold to the TV series, MR. NOVAK, ghosted for health food
guru, Dan Dale Alexander, and wrote for and with diverse producers,
among them as Harry Joe Brown, Sig Schlager, Albert J. Cohen, Al Ruddy
plus Paul Stader Sr, Hollywood stuntman and stunt/2nd unit director.
While in Hollywood, Donald taught Creative Writing and Advanced
Placement European History at Fairfax High School where he was Social
Studies Department Chairman.

After living in Florianópolis, Brazil, setting of his horror novel A
GATHERING OF VULTURES, pub. 2007 & 2011, he moved to Florida where
he wrote as a with: VITAMIN ENRICHED, pub.1999, for Carl DeSantis,
founder of Rexall Sundown Vitamins; and THE COUPLE’S DISEASE, Finding a
Cure for Your Lost “Love” Life, pub. 2002, for Lawrence S. Hakim, MD,
FACS, Head of Sexual Dysfunction Unit at the Cleveland Clinic.
Currently, Donald resides in Winter Haven, Florida where he is
polishing a dark novel and preparing to write a sequel to CLOSE TO THE
SUN.

For more information please visit Donald Michael Platt’s website.
You can also connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.